as pope benedict prepares to step down, the vatican lashes out over media reports and speculation on why he's retiring. and about some of those who might replace him. >>> and, shaking it up. on how a song makes it to the top of the charts. some say it's about time. captions paid for by nbc-universal television >>> good evening. we begin with a developing story from daytona beach, florida, where late this afternoon a race car smashed into the fence and sent debris flying into the grandstands. it happened on the eve of the daytona 500 on the final lap of a nationwide series race. at least a dozen people were taken to the hospital. nbc's janet shamlian is in daytona with the latest for us tonight. january the net, good evening. >> reporter: good evening to you. it was a jaw-dropping multi-car crash in five-day forecast grandstand on the final lap of this race. the rookie kyle larsen's car went into the fence, his engine caught fire, then spectators say they saw large chunks of debris flying high into the stands. many say they ducked or turned and when they turned around again, they saw